Oval containers



y 23, 1967 C. G. HEBEL 3,321,096

OVAL CONTAI NERS Filed May 5, 1966 C5 Sheets-Sheet I.

INVENTOR %orl G.He be| BY id-w M ATTORNEYS C. G. HEBEL OVAL CONTAINERS May 23, 1967 Filed May 5, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR m e G i G C b Y B ATTORNEYS I y 23, 1967 c. G. HEBEL 3,321,096

OVAL CONTAINERS Filed May 5, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR Carl 6. He bel ATTORNEYS 3,321,096 OVAL CDNTAENERS Cari G. Hehel, Haworth, N..i., assignor to General Foods Corporation, White Plains, N.Y., a corporation of Dela were Filed May 5, 1965, Ser. No. 453,266 12 Claims. (Cl. 215-1) This invention relates generally to containers adaptable for use with high-speed automated filling, labeling, and/or capping equipment, the invention relating more particularly to rigid containers so adapted which are shaped to present a generally oval configuration in horizontal cross section.

In the marketing of products for the public-at-large, the ornamental design of the container in which the product is packaged is an important factor bearing on consumer acceptance of the product. One of the objectives of any well-conceived product marketing plan is to provide a container for the product which has an ornamental design which is both aesthetically pleasing and unique over designs utilized by competitors so as to establish a favorable image with respect to the contained product which will be favorably received and readily recognized by the buying public.

Variations in the ornamental design or configuration of containers is practically limitless, but they can all be broadly categorized in two main categories, i.e., those wherein the horizontal cross section of the main body portion consists generally of fiat surfaces, and those wherein said section of the main body portion consists generally of arcuate surfaces. The latter category can be further delineated between those wherein the main body portion, or at least the horizontal cross section thereof of greatest dimensions, is essentially circular, and those wherein the main body portion, or at least the horizontal cross section thereof of greatest dimensions, is essentially oval. Theemployment of container designs in the latter subcategory has heretofore been subject to a handicap or disadvantage in that they present special feeding problems when utilized in conventional conveyor systems associated with high-speed automated filling, labeling and/ or capping equipment.

A conventional conveyor system widely used with highspeed automated processing equipment is one wherein the containers are fed or conveyed to the respective filling,

labeling and/or capping stations in succession by conat the precise time required for its introduction into the associated processing station. The slightly greater velocity of the conveyor belt thus necessarily results in a longitudinal bunching or compacting of containers, one against the other, starting at the discharge endof the conveyor belt. The containers are in frictional engagement with the belt so that when compacted at the discharge end of the belt they slip relative thereto, the same frictional force of the belt on each container being transferred from one container to the next in a cumulative manner so as to impart to the lead container of the compacted group the total force frictionally applied by the belt to the trailing containers of the group. Thus, the amount of force ap- .plied to any one container in the compacted group is directly proportional to the number of containers trailing it within the group.

When containers having a generally oval configuration in horizontal cross section are being processed in equipment of this nature, assuming for the moment that said containers are oriented with their major axis substantially parallel to the direction of belt travel, the force transmitted to the ends of the container, by the compacting action as aforesaid, tends to skew the containers so that their major axis deviates substantially from parallel relation to the direction of belt feed. This causes a given container to either skew the preceding container in the opposite direction or to partially overtake the immediately preceding container and become wedged between the said preceding container and an associated guide rail. When thus wedged the force applied to such container is transmitted to the preceding container in a magnified manner due to the camming effect caused by its wedged orienta tion to result in an overstrain not tolerable by the system or containers and manifested by either a feed jam or disfigurement of one or more of the containers, which, in the event that they are of a brittle nature, would mean a complete breakage thereof.

The invention is disclosed herein in an embodiment representing a jar, preferably made of glass, having the horizontal cross section of its main body portion of generally oval configuration which gradually tapers, at least in its major axis dimension, from the heel to the shoulder portion thereof. The jar is one wherein the dominant design concept is one consisting of a true oval tapering inwardly from the bottom to the top of the main body portion. The cross sectoin of the jar herein disclosed having the greatest dimensions is at the heel or bottom of the main body portion. Accordingly, when used or placed in line-processing equipment of the type above mentioned, it is at the heel section of the jar that the forces resulting from the compacting of several jars at the discharge end of the belt conveyor are transmitted from one jar to another.

In accordance with the invention, the heel section of the jar is formed with minute, substantially flat surfaces located at each end of both the major and minor axis thereof. The flat surfaces provided at the ends of the minor axis cooperate with the side guides associated with the conveyor belt so as to limit the skew of a jar relative to the conveyor belt to a predetermined extent. The fiat surfaces provided at the ends of the major axis of the jar are provided, and are of such dimension, so as to assure that within the allowable range of skewing as determined by the minor axis flat surfaces, the point of contact between adjacent jars when in compacted relationship will always fall within the area of the major axis flat surfaces. Thus, the arrangement prevents a jar from skewing to the extent of becoming wedged between a preceding jar and a guide rail to exert force against a preceding jar by a camming action, as would be the case if the fiat surfaces were not provided. The cooperative action of the four flat surfaces in the manner above described maintains the major axis of the jars in substantial registration with the conveyor belt direction of feed, so that the forces generated and transmitted through adjacent jars when compacted at the discharge end of the belt conveyor can be readily sustained without resulting in a feed jam or breakage of one or more of the containers.

The advantage of employing four flat surfaces located as described as opposed to the provision of, for example, two flat surfaces either along the major axis or the minor axis, which conceivably could achieve the same results, is that by employing four fiat surfaces the overall area of each flat surface can be minimized so as not to detract substantially from the intended ornamental design concept of ovalness. Such would not be the case in the use of only two fiat surfaces since they would necessarily have to be of such increased area, to achieve the desired results, as to substantially detract from the overall ornamental design concept of ovalness.

It is therefore an object of this invention to improve the handling properties of essentially oval-shaped containers in automated high-speed line processing equipment.

It is a further object of the invention to provide essentially oval-shaped containers with means for maintaining their proper registration in high-speed automated line processing equipment without substantially detracting from their intended oval appearance.

Further objects of the invention together with the features contributing thereto and the advantages accruing therefrom will be apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of a jar according to the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of said jar;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of said jar;

FIG. 4 is a view in end elevation of said jar;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view through said jar taken along the line 55 of FIG. 1;

7 FIG. 6 is a sectional view through said jar taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of conveyor means associated with automated jar-processing line equipment;

FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view illustrating the action of jars according to the instant invention under one skewing condition occurring when compacted at the discharge end of a belt conveyor;

FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of conventional ovalshaped jars under the same skewing condition as that of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view of jars according to the instant invention under another skewing condition existing at the discharge end of a conveyor belt;

FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view of conventional jars under the same skewing condition as that indicated in FIG. 10.

Referring now to the drawing, the invention is shown as embodied in a jar having the configuration shown in FIGS. 1-6. The jar configuration includes a base portion or pedestal 11 having a true oval contour and which rises in an outwardly flaring manner to join the main body portion 12 along a line of juncture 13 which may be considered the heel of the jar. The main body portion 12 of the jar is essentially oval in horizontal cross section and rises upwardly with an inwardly directed taper to a line of juncture with the neck 14, which line of juncture may be considered a shoulder 15. The neck merges into a circular finish 16 which may be provided with lugs 17 adapted to secure a twist-off cap, not shown. The bottom surface of the base portion or pedestal 11 of the jar may, if desired, be formed with outwardly projecting and oppositely disposed pairs of feet 18, 19, of generally arcuate contour, upon which feet the jar is adapted to rest.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the body portion 12 of the jar is of generally oval shape in horizontal cross section, the oval dimensions with respect to both the major and minor axis being at their maximum at the bottom of the main body portion 12 in the area of the heel 13.

According to the invention herein disclosed, the main body portion of the jar is so formed as to interrupt the true oval character of the heel by slight indentations presenting flat surfaces lying in a chordal plane, said indentations hereinafter being referred to as flats 21, 22. One pair of flats 21 is disposed on opposite sides of the jar and is centered along the minor axis of the jar. The other pair of flats 22 is disposed at opposed ends of the jar and is centered with respect to the major axis of the jar. Each of the flats 21, 22 extends upwardly from the heel 13 and in the instant embodiment assumes a generally semi-elliptical contour, the side flats 21 preferably being somewhat larger in area than the end flats 22. The flats 21 lie in planes parallel to one another, the flats 22 likewise being in planes parallel to one another, the plane of flats 21 being perpendicular to the plane of flats 22. In the case of containers made of glass, such as in the present instance and produced by molding techniques, it may be desirable, for production purposes, to form each end flat 22 in two slightly tapered planes converging at the major axis of the jar. If such be the case, the degree of taper can be so slight as to not substantially deviate from the generally single plane character of each of said flats 22.

FIG. 7 illustrates operationally the action of a line of jars 10 transferring from the discharge end of a belt conveyor, comprised of a conveyor belt 25 and side guide rails 26, 27 to a screw conveyor, comprised of screws 28, 29, serving as the infeed to a rotary processing unit of the line Which may be a filler, labeler, capper, or the like, and indicated in outline diagrammatically by the line 31. The threads of the feed screws 28, 29 are designed to have a gradually increasing pitch in the direction of feed so as to accelerate the jars and space them apart for delivery in properly timed coordination with the motion of the rotary processing unit 31. The feeding velocity imparted to the jars at the receiving end of the screws 28 is slightly less than that of conveyor belt 25 so as to deliberately cause a compacting of the jars at the transfer point, the jars being initially placed on belt 25 by case unloader mechanism, not shown, in spacedapart relationship. The compacting of the jars is necessary to assure that the jars will enter the screw conveyor in proper relationship to the threads on the screws 28, 29, and also to assure a steady noninterrupted supply of jars to the screws for each revolution thereof. An automatic jar-stop 32 may be provided near the transfer point, said stop being projectable into the line of feed, i.e., the dotted line position, to cause a predetermined amount of backup or compaction of jars on the conveyor belt 25 in start-up operations or at other times when for various reasons the supply of jars is not sufficient to cause the longitudinal compacting thereof at the discharge end of the belt conveyor.

FIG. 8 shows the attitude of adjacent jars according to the invention under one skewing condition which may exist in the compacted line of jars. As seen in FIG. 8, the jar 10a hasbeen skewed slightly in a counterclockwise direction to render its major axis slightly out of alignment with the direction of feed indicated by arrow '35. The extent of skewing jar 10a, however, is kept within a narrow range or limit by virtue of the side flats 21 being in skew-limiting engagement with the side guides 26, 27. Jar 10b is slightly skewed in a clockwise direction, the degree of skew also being limited by the side guides 26, 27 engaging the side flats 21 of jar 10b. Under the condition where adjacent jars are skewed in opposite directions, as in FIG. 8 with respect to jars 10a, 10b, the limitation on the extent of skewing by virtue of side flats 21 maintains the end flats 22 in abutting contact so that the force applied against jar 1012 by jar 10a is in the general direction of feed as indicated by arrow 36 to thereby avoid jamming or locking of the jars which, except for the flats, might otherwise occur. Jar 10c is also skewed slightly in a clockwise direction illustrating a condition as between it and jar 10b which will be described hereinafter with reference to FIG. 10.

FIG. 9 illustrates the result of the same relative skewing of adjacent jars as in FIG. 8 but with respect to jars 40 identical in configuration with jars 10 except for the absence of the opposed side and end flats 21, 22. Side guides 26, 27 are set at the same tolerance with respect to the minor axis dimension of the jars as in FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 9, the force imparted by jar 40a against jar 40b tends to further skew jar 40a in a counterclockwise direction and jar 40b in a clockwise direction, the direction of force being indicated by arrow 41 which is substantially divergent from the direction of feed as indicated by arrow 35. The skewing of jar 40b in a clockwise direction in turn applies a clockwise skewing force to jar 400 to result in a condition described hereinafter more fully in reference to FIG. 11. As a result of the action shown in FIG. 9, jars 40a, 40b may be forced into a frictional bind of such magnitude with the side guides 26, 27 as to completely resist further advance and thereby lock or jam in the skewed positions. Once jammed or locked the operation of the line is interrupted and the consequent increase in the forces applied on the jammed jars by the increased back-up or compacting of the trailing jars will likely result in jar breakage.

FIG. illustrates a skewing condition of jars according to the instant invention wherein contiguous jars are skewed in the same direction. As seen in FIG. 10, the jar 10d is skewed slightly in a clockwise direction as are also jars 10c and 10 The extent of skew is limited by the side guides 26, 27 in cooperation with the side flats 21 so as to prevent the end flats 22 from moving out of abutting relation to one another. Thus the force transmitted by jar l0d to jar 10c is applied at the end flat 22 and in a direction generally parallel to the direction of belt travel which direction of force is indicated by arrow 42. Thus the transmitted force develops no significant tendency to skew the jars into tight frictional bind with the side guides to jam or lock therewith, which otherwise would be the case in the absence of the flats 21, 22.

FIG. 11 illustrates the results of the same relative ske wing of contiguous jars as in FIG. 10 with respect to jars 40, which, as aforesaid, are identical to jars 10 except for the absence of flats 21, 22, it being understood that the side guides 26, 27 are in each instance set at the same tolerance with respect to the minor axis dimension of the respective jars. As seen in FIG. 11, the force exerted by jar 40d on jar 40e in the direction indicated by arrow 43 is applied between curved surfaces of the respective jars which generates a rotational or skewing torque for the jars in a clockwise direction to cause a tight frictional bind thereof with the side guides 26, 27 resulting in a lock or jam. In this attitude the jar 40d also tends to override jar 40c, and the same with respect to jar 40c relative to jar 40 each jar becoming wedged between the immediately preceding jar and the side guide 27 to transmit the force through a wedging or camming action which further increases the strain on the respective jars to a point which could likely result in failure of the material of which the jars are made.

Accordingly, it will be seen that the provision of minute opposed flats at the major and minor axes of the jars, in accordance with the invention, the deviation of which flats from the generally contour is so slight as not to sig nificantly detract from the intended oval appearance and design concept, will enable the jars to maintain proper alignment on the belt conveyor and thus prevents jams or locks with the side guides, interrupting line operation and likely resulting in container breakage, as would be the case with similarly shaped jars lacking the aforesaid flats.

While there has been shown and described what is considered to be a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will of course be obvious that changes in form could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore intended that the invention be not limited to the exact form herein shown and described nor to anything less than the whole of the invention herein disclosed and as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A rigid container of which the largest dimension in horizontal cross section are in the main body portion and present a generally oval shape and which is adapted for mutual compacting interaction with other such container-s when being transported serially by frictional engagement with a conveyor mechanism, the entire main body portion tapering upwardly and inwardly on all sides and said container being formed with two pairs of opposed flats each representing a chordal segment of said generally oval shape and spaced about the peripheral surface of said horizontal cross section of largest dimensions in alternate series with arcuate segments of said generally oval shape, said pairs of flats being centered relative to the major and minor axis, respectively, of said horizontal cross section, said flats each lying in a respective substantially vertical plane, the planes of each flat of a respective pair being parallel to each other, the planes of one pair being perpendicular to the planes of the other pair.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein the dimensions of said flats are no greater than those which enable the flats centered on one said axis in cooperation with opposed side guides associated with the conveying mechanism to limit the skewing of a container within a range which maintains the flats centered on the other axis in abutting contact with similarly disposed flats on adjacent containers during the compacting interaction between said containers under the influence of said conveyin g mechanism.

3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein the total peripheral distance represented by surfaces of said flats at said horizontal cross section is less than the total peripheral distance at said horizontal cross section represented by surfaces exclusive of said flats.

4. The invention according to claim 3 wherein the flats of one opposed pair are larger in surface area than the flats of the other opposed pair.

5. The invention according to claim 4 wherein the pair of flats having the largest surface area are centered on said minor axis.

6. A rigid container adapted for mutual compacting interaction with a plurality of identically configured containers when being transported serially by frictional engagement with a horizontally extending conveyor mechanism, said container having a main body portion rising vertically between the heel and the shoulder of said container, said main body portion being generally oval in horizontal cross section, said main body portion in its entirety tapering between said heel and shoulder and having its greatest dimensions in horizontal cross section at said heel, said main body portion being formed with two pairs of opposed flats each representing a chordal segment of the generally oval cross sectional contour and of which at least one pair is spaced about the peripheral surface of said heel between arcuate segments of the generally oval cross-sectional contour of said heel, said pairs of flats being centered relative to the major and minor axis, respectively, of said main body portion, said flats each lying in a respective substantially vertical plane, the planes of each flat of a respective pair being parallel to each other, the planes of one pair being perpendicular to the planes of the other pair.

7. The invention according to claim 6 wherein the dimensions of said flats are no greater than those which enable the flats centered on said minor axis in cooperation with opposed side guides associated with said conveying mechanism to limit the skewing of a container within a range which maintains the flats centered on the major axis in abutting contact with the major axis flats on adjacent containers during said compacting interaction between said containers under the influence of said conveyor mechanism.

8. The invention according to claim 6 wherein both said pairs of flats are disposed along the peripheral surface of said heel.

9. The invention according to claim 8 wherein the total peripheral distance represented by surfaces of all said flats at said heel is less than the total peripheral distance at said heel represented by surfaces exclusive of said flats.

10. The invention according to claim 6 wherein the flats of one opposed pair are larger in surface area than the flats of the other opposed pair.

11. The invention according to claim 10 wherein the pair of flats having the larger surface area is centered on said minor axis.

12. A rigid container adapted for mutual compacting interaction with a plurality of identically configured containers when being transported serially by frictional engagement with a horizontally extending conveyor mechanism, said container having a main body portion rising vertically between the heel and the shoulder of said container, said main body portion being generally oval in horizontal cross section, said main body portion in its entirety tapering between said heel and shoulder and having its greatest dimensions in horizontal cross section at said heel, said main body portion being formed with two pairs of opposed flats each representing a chordal segment in the generally oval cross sectional contour and spaced about the peripheral surface of said heel alternately with arcuate segments of the generally oval cross-sectional contour of said heel, said pairs of flats being centered relative to the major and, minor axis, respectively, of said heel, said flats each lying in a respective substantially vertical plane, the planes of each flat of a respective pair being parallel to each other, the planes of one pair being perpendicular to the planes of the other pair, the dimensions of said flats being no greater than those which enable the flats centered on said minor axis in cooperation with opposed side guides associated with said conveying mechanism to limit the skewing of a container within a range which maintains the flats centered on the major axis in abutting contact with the major axis flats of adjacent containers during said compacting interaction between said containers under the influence of said conveyor mechanism, the flats centered on said minor axis being greater in surface area than the flats centered on said major axis.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 21,390 3/1892 Gauline D588 D. 175,858 10/1955 Schomp D588 1,127,141 2/1915 Whitcomb 215-1 FOREIGN PATENTS 609,054 9/1960 Italy.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Examiner. 

1. A RIGID CONTAINER OF WHICH THE LARGEST DIMENSION IN HORIZONTAL CROSS SECTION ARE IN THE MAIN BODY PORTION AND PRESENT A GENERALLY OVAL SHAPE AND WHICH IS ADAPTED FOR MUTUAL COMPACTING INTERACTION WITH OTHER SUCH CONTAINERS WHEN BEING TRANSPORTED SERIALLY BY FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT WITH A CONVEYOR MECHANISM, THE ENTIRE MAIN BODY PORTION TAPERING UPWARDLY AND INWARDLY ON ALL SIDES AND SAID CONTAINER BEING FORMED WITH TWO PAIRS OF OPPOSED FLATS EACH REPRESENTING A CHORDAL SEGMENT OF SAID GENERALLY OVAL SHAPE AND SPACED ABOUT THE PERIPHERAL SURFACE OF SAID HORIZONTAL CROSS SECTION OF LARGEST DIMENSIONS IN ALTERNATE SERIES WITH ARCUATE SEGMENTS OF SAID GENERALLY OVAL SHAPE, SAID PAIRS OF FLATS BEING CENTERED RELATIVE TO THE MAJOR AND MINOR AXIS, RESPECTIVELY, OF SAID HORIZONTAL CROSS SECTION, SAID FLATS EACH LYING IN A RESPECTIVE SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL PLANE, THE PLANES OF EACH FLAT OF A RESPECTIVE PAIR BEING 